The reportage of the II Contest of the Asociacion Espanola de Suiseki of Alcobendas

16th-18th October 2009

Ayuntamiento de Alcobendas
Plaza Mayor, nº 1, Spain
II CERTAMEN DE ASOCIACION ESPANOLA
DE SUISEKI
 

Texts and photo of Mrs. Luciana Queirolo


Alcobendas, town under the jurisdiction of the autonomous Community of Madrid, is located at 13 km northward  of the Capital, after the half of the twentieth century and with the beginning  of democracy, has steadily grown  up to become  one of the main  towns  of the Madrid Community.

An administrative management careful to cultural initiatives has rendered possible the creation in 1994 of a Civil Museum of Bonsai, opened to the public, unique in its type and not only for the adopted architectonic solutions, but  just in its conduct, born from the union of two objectives:

from one side,  Mr. Luis Vallejo,  worldwide known bonsaist  and  his necessity to secure an adapt site to his collection; from the other side the Community of Alcobendas, that  has financed the project, the carrying out and that  is responsible of the  maintenance and preservation costs.

We have in four left with a will, bound to Madrid, running by car the endless travel, but enjoying the wonderful  landscapes, unfortunately grown dark, on the way back,  by a tricky downpour  rain and by the wind.

We have returned tired but thrilled by an high level event as a few.

The location of the Exhibition in the Hall of the Municipal Council of Alcobendas, has not favoured a substantial flow of visitors, being located in a complex of offices closed for the week end, but has favoured the exchanges among the members and the convivial and didactical activities.

Mr. Sean Smith, as usually, has shown himself as a friend for all, prior than a teacher and has dispensed advices in the most generous way.

 

To his workshop  we were in 16, between  “apprentices” and  “admitted observers”. 

The lectures, then, of Mrs. Mary Rose Bonet and Mr. Rafael Monje  have showed (if  we should ever had the  need)  and even if in a different manner, their capacities and  knowledges  acquired  during decades of passion for the stones’ art.

 

During the gala dinner (really worth of such name) Mr. Sean has delivered the awards that Mr. Jesus Quintas, Mr. Josè Manuel Blazquez, Mr. Juan Josè Bueno Gil, our A.I.A.S. members, obtained  in Puerto Rico (see AIAS Newsletter n°23)  where was awarded another eminent  member of ours: Mrs. Mary Rose Bonet .

Mr. Rafael Monje has received  by Mr. Sean  the United  Suiseki Association’s recognition as best  Spanish  expert collector  and the admiration for the very high  quality of stones and daiza.

 

Mr. Juan Josè has added  to his medal showcase the Award of the Bonsai Association of Alcobendas to the best display and the Certificate of the United Suiseki Association, always as best display.

Really, to exhibit some thing in addition to the table of suiseki, has been  an almost impossible enterprise to realize, having only 15 cm.  for each side out of  the table;  but during the General Meeting it has been approved the rule to assign one meter space to every participating stone.

Furthermore Mr.Sean Smith has assigned the Award for the best manufacturing of the daiza, made during the workshop to Mr. Carlos Gusi Zaidin.

 

The Organizers, Mr. Josè Manuel, Mr. Juan Josè and the President of the bonsai Club of  Alcobendas  ahead …. a winning team !

 

During the General Meeting, taking the point of the first year of… resurrection of the National Spanish Suiseki Association,  we have succeeded  to vote unanimously  the elimination  of the contests and awards  from the future A.E.S. Certamen !

A dream which I am pursuing in the A.I.A.S. since 1997 !

This voyage in Spain, thought and realized over all to join once at least with our most far away A.I.A.S. members, has been really a positive experience which is worth to be repeated next year, hoping that the small Italian group in the meantime becomes a caravan !

The suiseki of A.I.A.S. members

 

Mr. Angelo Attinà 

Mr. Angelo Attinà

 

Mr. Jose Manuel Blazquez

Mr. Jose Manuel Blazquez

Mr. Jose Manuel Blazquez

 

Mrs. Maria Rosa Bonet

Mrs. Maria Rosa Bonet

Mrs. Maria Rosa Bonet

 

Mrs. Maria Rosa Bonet

Mrs. Maria Rosa Bonet

 

Mr. Juan Jose Bueno Gil

Mr. Juan Jose Bueno Gil

 

Mr. Juan Jose Bueno Gil

Mr. Juan Jose Bueno Gil

 
 

Mr. Cesare Fumagalli

Mr. Cesare Fumagalli

 

Mrs. Pilar Guillen

Mrs. Pilar Guillen

 

Mrs. Luciana Queirolo

Mrs. Luciana Queirolo

 

Mr. Jesus Quintas

Mr. Jesus Quintas

 

The suiseki exhibited by Mr. Sean Smith

 

A famous suiseki of Mr. Rafael Monje

 

A wonderful Japanese exemplar of Mr. Peter Warren, favourite disciple of Mr. Kunio Kobayashi

The selling area , with suiseki of Mr. Sean Smith, from America and Japan, and the Japanese suiseki of Mr. David Sampson.